You Want Me to Buy
What?
Local Food – What it means, why it’s
important and how to purchase it
Insert Name of
Presenters
Peer Leadership Network
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
National Farm to School Network
The value of a network: Organization within the National Farm to School Network
Policy makers, media, partners, funders
On-the-ground
information about
local programs,
resource and policy
needs, and the state
of the movement
in general.
National Staff
Work remotely from
locations across the country.
8 Regional Lead Agencies ( RLAs)
Partner organizations across the
country serving as regional NFSN hubs.
50 State Leads
Partner organizations and agencies
serving as state-level hubs for NFSN.
7,000+ Network Members
Individuals across the country who have signed up as
members of the Network. They include nonprofit staff, school
nutrition directors, teachers, farmers, parents, government
representatives
and community
members.
National Farm to
School Network
- Nourishing
Kids
Leadership and
coordination,
support for policy
and research goals,
communications
resources, training
and technical
assistance, and
information about
all aspects of the
movement.
and Communities
Farm to School Peer Leadership Network
Goal: Strengthen farm to school training and technical
assistance for stakeholders through peer learning.
• 20 Peer Leaders selected in 4 stakeholder groups:
• Farmers
• Child Nutrition Directors
• Educators / Teachers
• Early Child Education Providers
• 12 peer trainings developed and shared nationally
• Peer leaders available to provide one-on-one assistance
• The Peer Leadership Network is a project of the National Farm to
School Network
• The project is supported by Newman’s Own Foundation
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Farm to School: A Holistic Approach
LOCAL
PROCUREMENT
SCHOOL GARDENS
EXPERIENTIAL
EDUCATION
FOOD & AG
CURRICULUM
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Presentation Objectives
•
•
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•
•
•
•
Why Incorporate Local Products
A Discussion of Farm to School Barriers
Local Foods Quiz: What is Local?
Procurement: Formal vs. Informal
Procurement: Geographic Preference
Specifications for Fruits and Vegetables
Purchasing Produce with a Forward Contract
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
What can Participating in Farm to
School Achieve?
If just $1 was spent on local food for each of the
839,426 public school students in Minnesota
per month
during the school year,
$7,554,834
of school food dollars would go to local
producers, bolstering our local economy.
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
What can Participating in Farm to
School Achieve?
According to the 2011-2012 USDA Farm to
School Census, Minnesota schools invested
$9,321,435
into our local economy through the purchase of
local food items.
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Local Foods Quiz
The term “local food” means:
A. Method of food production and distribution that is
geographically localized
B. Food that is grown (or raised) and harvested close to
consumers’ homes
C. Food that is consumed close to where it was grown
D. All of they above
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Local Foods Quiz
Why are local foods important?
A. Local/regional food systems help support local,
sustainably run farms
B. They can help protect our health and the health of our
communities
C. Local foods on the school lunch line increase marketing
potential and community connections
D. All of the above
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Determining What Local Means to
Your Farm to School Operation
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
What is Local to You?
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
What is Local?
• Fruits and vegetables
• Grains, meats, proteins, milk, cheese, yogurt, beans etc
• Locally produced or minimally processed products like
bread from a local bakery or cut apples or carrots.
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Opportunities for Local Protein
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Examples of Local Definitions
• Burlington School District
– The state of Vermont plus 30 miles outside the state
• This is their state definition, schools are welcome to use it
• San Diego Unified School District, California
– San Diego County or within 25 miles of the county
boarder (excluding Mexico
• Continues to a regional definition
• Haywood County Schools, North Carolina
– 100 Mile radius
• Hopkins Public Schools, Minnesota
– Within 200 miles
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Let’s Work on Your Definition
• Your geographic location
• Climate and seasonality
• Size, quantity and growing practices of farms in your
area
• What other definitions of ‘local’ are used by other
organizations in your area or state?
• Does your state have a legislated or recommended
definition?
• How many different farmers do you have in your area?
• Consider location of food products like bread and bagels
that may be made locally too
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
So, Now What?
• Where do you go from here?
• Procurement of local products
• Requires the same rules and regulations as other
products
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Local Food Procurement Quiz
Contract methods that districts can use to procure local
foods are:
(Choose all that apply)
A. Competitive sealed bids
B. Competitive proposals
C. Informal bids for purchases under the small purchase
threshold
D. We don’t need bids to buy local foods
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Procurement: Formal or
Informal…That is the Question
• A competitive bid process is required for school food
purchases regardless of dollar amount
• Federal and state law identify two methods
– Formal
– Informal
• Selection of method depends on the dollar amount of
each purchase
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Procurement: Small Purchase
Threshold
Federal Small Purchase Threshold - $150.000
State Small Purchase Threshold – May vary
Local or District Small Purchase Threshold – May vary
• If a purchase is less than the small purchase threshold,
an informal method may be used
• If a purchase is over the small purchase threshold, a
formal procurement process is required
• You must comply with the lowest small purchase
threshold, either the federal, state or local
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Informal Procurement
• Still requires competitive
bid process
• Needs a written
procurement request that
outlines product
specifications
• Can be as complex as
formal procurement
methods or as simple as
“three bids and a buy”!
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Informal Procurement
• Work from a written
request so that all
vendors receive the same
information and the same
opportunity to quote
• Document all informal
procurement activities in
order to be able to
respond to an auditor or
agency in the event of an
award protest
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Procurement: Is Your Purchase Over
the Small Purchase Threshold?
• If yes, you must employ the formal procurement process
with a sealed bid or request of proposal
• Work with your district’s procurement office to determine
which formal method you will use
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Formal Procurement: Sealed Bid
• Use this method if you can provide a complete
description of the products you desire and specific
contract award based on price
• This method requires you to award the contract to the
lowest responsible bidder whose bid conformed to all
terms and conditions of the invitation to bid
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Formal Procurement: Competitive
Proposal
• Use this method when you can provide a description of
what you need but are also interested in soliciting input
from bidders on what they can offer
• Under this method, the district would consider price and
other factors that benefit them to determine who to
award the contract to.
• Evaluation factors must be specified in the request for
proposal
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
So, Now What?
• How to find local foods
• Now that we know the
basics of procurement,
let’s look at a couple of
ways to purchase local
products using these
methods.
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Where to Find Local Foods
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Your local or regular distributors
Food Service Management Companies
Local food processors
DoD Fresh Program
Directly from local farmers
Producer co-ops or food hubs
School gardens
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Applying Geographic Preference
• Apply an advantage to
local, unprocessed
products
• Evaluate your bids and
give preference for local
• There are many ways to
apply this preference
option and still ensure fair
and open competition
• Can be used with any
procurement method
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Applying Geographic Preference
• There are many different
systems districts use to
apply geographic
preference
• Check with your district’s
procurement department
– Will help you assess what the
best approach is for applying
geographic preference
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
The “One Point = One Penny” Method
• A set of points can be applied for providing products
within the area your district as defined as “local”
• The points equate to pennies for applying the price
preference
• The monetary amount is deducted from the bid or quote
amount for comparison purposes
– No dollar amount is actually deducted
– The deduction only applies for evaluation purposes
and does not affect the price paid.
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
One Point = One Penny: An Example
• Your district decides to apply 10 preference points to
vendors who provide locally grown foods
• For this method, one point = one penny, therefore ten
points = 10 cents
• When evaluating bids, the price of the local product will
be lowered by 10 cents
• The vendor with the lowest priced item will receive the
award
– Note that the vendors will still be paid their original bid
price
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
One Point = One Penny: An Example
• The district receives at least three vendor responses and
verifies that the geographic preference was applied
correctly
Vendor 1
Vendor 2
Vendor 3
Price
$1.99
$2.15
$2.05
Meets Geo Pref.
No
Yes
No
Price with Pref.
Points Applied
$1.99
$2.05
$2.05
• Which Vendor was awarded the bid?
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Procurement Documents
Farmer 1
Farmer 2
Farmer 3
Contact Information:
Contact Information:
Contact Information:
Product(s) Solicited:
Product(s) Solicited:
Product(s) Solicited:
Total Quote
Total Quote
Total Quote
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Writing Specifications to Get the Local
Product You Want
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Why Write Specifications?
• Specifications are required for all levels of bids
• Clear specifications help assure:
– You get exactly what you want and receive the quality
you expect
– The produce meets your needs and is in good
condition
– Each potential vendor is receiving the same
information for fair and open competition
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Example: Specifications for Apples
• Apples, Red, 40lb per case
Is this what you want?
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Example: Specifications for Apples
• Apples, fresh, Gala variety; 138 count,
– Clean- no sighs of dirt or other foreign matter
– Firm, crisp, juicy, flavorful, not bruised
– 500cs/year
Is this what you had in mind?
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Elements of Specifications
• When drafting specifications for local foods, include any
of the following details
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–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Size, quantity, quality
Specific variety
Maturity or ripeness
Cleanliness
Packaging
Food safety
Delivery or time from harvest
Variety
• Do not unreasonably limit competition so that only one
supplier can provide a product
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Elements of Specifications
• Quality
– Color, appearance, uniformity, size, absence of defects and
decay
• Maturity or Ripeness
– Depends on produce
– Should be firm, crisp, typical color, plump, etc.
• Variety
– List one, or a few, specific varieties you would like to use
– Ex: Apples- Fuji, Cortland, Pink Lady
• Include expected number of days from harvest to
delivery
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Elements of Specifications
• Cleanliness
– Free of dirt, insects, and
other foreign matter
• Packaging
– Proper materials used in
packaging produce
– Safe for food
– Sturdy enough to protect
food during transport
– Gas permeable
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Elements of Specifications
• Food Safety
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–
–
–
–
–
Ideal temperatures during the farm to table cycle
Code dating and rotation of products
Safe and sanitary handling procedures
Farm checklist
Food safety practices followed
Proof of farm liability insurance
• Delivery
– Establish delivery day(s), time and location(s)
– Establish delivery method
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Elements of Specifications: Product
Size
• Different items have
different standards – be
sure to be specific for
each item
– List to the diameter of the item
– Specify pounds per case
• Use quantity or packing
units familiar to farmers
– Examples: crates, flats, cases,
pounds, single layer, pints,
etc.
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Elements of Specifications: Quality
• Use Federal Grade Standards established by the USDA
– You do not have to purchase products that are graded
– Standards will help you express what you are looking for
– Consider requesting a lower grade product for fruits and vegetables that
will not be served whole and for which appearance is not important
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Activity: Check the Spec!
• Scenario: You are a school district in the northeast and
want to procure watermelons for October lunch menus
• Specs you issue in your solicitation
•
•
– Watermelon, mature but not overripe
– Medium size
– Firm
– Symmetrical
– Jubilee variety
– Seedless
– Bulk
– Delivered within 48 hrs. of harvest
What is wrong with the specification?
What can be done to fix this solicitation?
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Purchasing Produce with a Forward
Contract
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
What is a Forward Contract?
• Agreement between
school food service and a
farmer for future food
items that farmer will
produce and the school
will buy
• Details are usually
established before the
growing season
– Include specs in place before
seeds are even planted
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Benefits of Forward Contracts
• Allows districts to plan menus with confidence
• Provides growers guaranteed market for their product
• Can also allow growers to adjust their planting time so a
product is available when students are in school
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Forward Contracts
• What if the crop fails?
– It is important to have a contingency plan in place
– If the producer is unable to fulfill the contract, you
need to reserve the right to procure the same product
from a different grower or distributor
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Potential Challenges & Barriers
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
First, Realize That…
Most barriers are perceived and can be worked aroundwhich means that there are virtually no barriers to
getting some local food into our cafeterias
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Perceived, or Real, Barriers to Local
Food Include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Logistics
Personal beliefs
Facility limitations
Budgets
Administrative challenges
Availability
What are some of your examples of barriers?
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Some Perceived Barriers
•
•
•
•
•
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Fear of meeting bid requirements
How to find a farmer
Lack of kitchen staff support
Lack of community support
Lack of school district administration support
Lack of student and school support
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Find Knowledge, Tools, and Resources
to Overcome Barriers
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
The Benefits of Problem Solving
• Problem solving promotes development of skills
– Determining desired outcomes
– Identifying problems
– Selecting possible solutions / choosing strategies
– Testing solutions
– Evaluating outcomes
– Predicting new problems
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Questions to Ask
• What is getting in the way of our ability to purchase local
foods for our student meal programs?
• How do you think we can overcome these obstacles?
• What can I do to help remove these barriers?
• What ideas can we expand upon that would help us
more effectively address…
• What could help us do our work better today?
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Making Farm to School a Reality
• How can you take what you have learned today and
apply it to your district?
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Farm to School Video
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Farm to School Video
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJDgINrCakw
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Farm to School Resources
Training handout includes additional resources to
compliment this training. Other resources include:
• National Farm to School Network
– www.farmtoschool.org
• USDA Regional Farm to School Staff
– www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/usda-farm-schoolstaff
• National Food Service Management Institute
– www.nfsmi.org
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
www.farmtoschool.org
FarmToSchool.org Home Page - - FarmtoSchool.org
5/ 23/ 13 10:13 A
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Find a Farm t o School Program near you:
Nat ional Farm t o School Net work
Farm to School is broadly defined as a program that connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the
objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture,
health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers. Since each Farm to
School program is shaped by its unique community and region, the National Farm to School Network does not
prescribe or impose a list of practices or products for the Farm to School approach. The National Farm to
School Network supports the work of local Farm to School programs all over the country by providing free
States with
operational
Programs:
50
Number of schools
involved*
12,429
Number of
students reached*
5,746,400
Dollar amount
spent on locally
$13
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
April 15-18, 2014 in Austin, Texas
www.farmtocafeteriaconference.org
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
October is National Farm to School
Month
More information at www.farmtoschoolmonth.org
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Evaluation and Future Assistance
• Complete the training evaluation form
• Future one-on-one training
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities
Thank You!
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Website
National Farm to School Network - Nourishing Kids and Communities